Unplugged and Unwind.

There has been so many beautiful days out here in California. I've been taking time to unplug from the world by turning my devices off and simply enjoying the day out. I bring my yoga mat onto the balcony, bring a book and a pillow and just lay there. Listening to the wind blow, watching the clouds pass by me and listen to the birds chirp away as the sun starts to set.

I believe that taking the time to relax is a very important part in life. Life is a big rollercoaster with plenty of highs and lows that we're constantly adapting to. We juggle responsibilities, fit a million things into one crowded work day and stress out about different factors throughout the day. Its just a constant go..go..go. We tend to just push stressful things aside and continue to let it accumulate until we come crashing down with side affects. Lack of sleep, muscle tenseness, excessive hunger and some anxiety (:

So go on and unplug from the world. Take a moment to relax and enjoy the beautiful life you live and enjoy the little things.

29 Things To Do On Your Leap Day

Happy leap year friends! We have an extra 24 hours this year to have some fun. For those of you that have no idea what leap year is here is a brief history lesson:

Leap year occurs every four years to help synchronize our calendar with the solar year. It takes the earth about 365.24 days to fully orbit around the sun. Without Leap Day, we'd be out of sync by about six hours per year (thank you google for the lovely leap year information). 

I've compiled 29 things that you can do with your extra 24 hours. Enjoy your day!

1. Spring Cleaning - It's always nice to come home to a nice and tidy house. Why not clean up a few things to help welcome the spring season.
2. Take A Day Trip - Pack up a few things and take a road trip or a train ride to someplace you've never been before. Explore the outdoors, take photos and enjoy the day!
3. Play Leap Frog - Bring back some childhood memories by playing some leapfrog. If you don't have anybody to play with go leap over the closest thing to you :). Just don't fall and break anything.
4. Bake - Bake a cake, cupcakes, brownies, cookies or just all of the above. Who can ever say no to yummy snacks?
5. Go To A Park - In my honest opinion I feel like not many people go to parks anymore. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Go people watch, pick up some trash, go on the swings and maybe even slide down the kiddie slides. 
6. Watch a Movie/TV Series - Watch the movies that were nominated for the Oscars or hop onto Hulu or Netflix to watch a TV series. I mean Fuller House is out on Netflix soooo...
7. Exercise - Exercising is good for your soul. It may not be fun all the time but it's so worth it. Put on some workout clothes, find a great playlist and go for it forrest!
8. Read A Book - Read that book that you've been dying to read. Rent it out at the library, buy it or just find it online.
9. Throw A Party - I myself have never been to a Leap Year party but it sounds like fun. Why not spend the extra day enjoying a few drinks and jokes around some great company.
10. Treat Yourself To A Nice Meal - Whens the last time you spoiled yourself with a nice meal? Yelp a restaurant and get your grub on!
11. Go To The Beach - If you're in sunny California, this years Leap Day weather is suppose to be lovely. Sit by the waves, scare off seagulls and enjoy the sunshine.
12. Catch Up - Catch up on work/school work that needs to be done.
13. Go Shopping - There are a few stores that celebrate the Leap Day and even have sales! Take advantage and splurge that mulah on some good deals.
14. Book A Flight/Hotel - There are a few airlines and hotels that offer some great deals when booking on Leap Day. Cheers to vacations!
15. Work - Boo... but, I guess we have to.
16. Learn A New Skill - Magic? Instruments? Dancing? You name it. Go ahead and give it a shot.
17. Sleep - yeah.
18. Apply For Jobs - Whether you're looking for a new job or you're trying to get onto that double/triple job life. Hiring season is just around the corner.
19. Do Something Good - Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Buy the person behind you in a drive thru lines food. Visit at an elderly home. 
20. Play Dress Up - Wear something that makes you feel amazing! You're beautiful work it ;)
21. Write A Letter To Your Future Self - Write a letter with your goals and how you've been doing lately. Lock it up and hide it somewhere and read it on our next Leap Day! 
22. Practice A Hobby - Sports, instruments, painting or writing. Whatever it is that you like to do go ahead and do it.
23. Play Board Games - Monopoly takes forever to finish.. why not?
24. Calm Yourself Down - Do some yoga or meditate. Relax, everything is going to be okay.
25. Play With Makeup - Master your contour and highlight or just find different methods that work better for you.
26. Make A Blanket Fort - Stack the pillows, gather around all of the chairs and find all of your blankets. Spend the whole day in there.
27. Cuddle Up With A Loved One - For me that'll be my puppy.
28. DIY - Head over to Pinterest and work on those DIY projects that you pinned months ago.
29. Just Take A Day Off - Relaxing is always a good way to go.

What Makes You Happy?

On a real note answer this question for yourself. What truly makes you happy?

Ever since I have moved back home I've had a very very difficult time getting back into the swing of things. I mean I have my bachelors degree, I'm taking prerequisite classes for grad school, I found a job within a month of moving back home and I now live with my parents...again. It doesn't sound too bad but things just really don't feel right. I have never felt more lost and confused in my life before and I can't seem to get a grip on what exactly it is that I need to do to feel somewhat better about things. I'm at a crossroad.

I feel like while I was at school I was just constantly moving forward in life and now that I'm back home I feel like i'm stuck or that i'm going to fall back in life or that I'm just going to get caught up. Obviously I don't want that to happen. Now the questions that I've been asking myself all come down to one thing. What makes you happy Nessa? And to be entirely honest, I'm not quite sure what makes me happy. I have a very strong feeling in my gut that I need to get away and just go live life somewhere far away from what has been known as home for my entire life. Home just doesn't feel like home anymore. Home is somewhere else and it's waiting for me to come and find it.

There will always be two different options throughout our lives. You either do it something or you don't. So cheers to figuring out life. I say do what makes you happy regardless of anybody else's opinion. If they think that it's a dumb and stupid idea who cares! That is one person out of billions of people in the world. Do you and don't let anybody throw you off track. Enjoy your life. Make sure to stand up tall and prove to the world just how amazing of a person you can be. Choose to never be average but to always be extraordinary.

**photo doesn't belong to me**

I'm 22! -- Birthday Wishlist

So I recently turned 22 on July 16th! Boo for getting old! Anywho, I put together a mini birthday wishlist because why not right? Each photo has a link when you hover of the photo!

L-R

1st Row

1. Corgi pillowcase - here

Helpful Healing: Negativity Towards Oneself.

As much as I love to be alone and away from everything including food there are times where I want to be surrounded by people who are full of joy and love. But, that's not how life goes. As for me I have been told that I am a very happy, funny and an easy person to get along with. However, in my eyes I don't see myself like that. I've never really seen myself as any of those things (I'll give myself the dorky-funny since people seem to laugh around me/at me). I've always had the thought that I'm never good enough or that things that I do/say are just completely stupid. I also start to think that it's better if I just stay quiet and keep to myself rather than talk to others. Now I've always known that these thoughts aren't mentally healthy but I've been working on it for several years to try and improve the way that I think of myself. I've improved a lot over the past years but lately i've been taking several steps back and i'm not quite sure why.

I have come to several hypothesis as to why I've fallen backwards:

• I currently have nothing to aim high for.
• I don't have friends? around to talk to and interact with here in Kentucky.
• I have forgotten who I am.
• The thought of being an adult scares me.
• The future is also very scary...
• I've been putting others happiness before my own !!

Now I know that I am not alone and if you're reading this and you feel the same way as I do you're clearly not alone since I'm here with you spilling my thoughts out. The thoughts we have might be a bit different but they are very similar. Sooo... I'm here to try and help you as well as remind myself of what has helped me in the past. Just remember that this isn't professional advice and is just what I have learned from my own personal experiences. I hope that they help you too!

▵ Find a hobby
Simply find anything that you enjoy to do and just do it! Don't care what anybody else thinks and just enjoy it. It can be anything from singing, dancing, painting, fishing, exercising to collecting pocket lint. If it gives you any kind of joy DO IT!!
▵ Keep a journal
Keeping a journal and writing down how you're feeling that day is always a good way to help get things off of your chest. When I write things down I often times feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Now, if you feel like you have nobody to talk to or you simply just don't want to talk to anybody about whatever it is write it down. A journal is a safe place. You don't have to write it in everyday. Just remember to write it in frequently enough to remember that there are good days and bad days. Not everything is so bad afterall :)
▵ Express your emotions
Smile, Laugh, Cry... Do whatever it is that you need to do and express yourself. It is healthy to express your self and emotions. Having things all bundled up doesn't help out the situation. Do whatever it is that you feel like doing and do it like nobody's watching you. Try and think back to how things were when you were still in the single digit ages. We didn't care about anything too exciting and we expressed our emotions all the time.
▵ Socialize
Often times when our thoughts become crowded with negativity we fall back into our shell and avoid everything. However, by socializing it can actually benefit the situation and before you know it your mind is somewhere in the sky with happy clouds again.
▵ Stay busy
Staying busy helps keep your mind off of things. The more busy things you do the less you think about whatever is going on. This is similar to having a hobby. When you're preoccupied things are just a lot easier to handle.
▵ Learn how to meditate
Now I haven't ever done this to help calm my mind. But, I have done it during yoga and it's the most relaxing thing in my life. Never once has anything come across my mind during meditation besides "oh, i'm getting sleepy (falls asleep in 30 seconds)." For me I found meditation to be more relaxing with nice calming music. During meditation try and feel like as if your body is melting into the ground and also take nice deep breaths.
▵ Breathe
Inhale... Exhale... There's nothing special to it. Just breathe because everything is going to be okay. Things always get better.
▵ Exercise 
Getting your heart pumping is a natural way for your brain to release feel-good brain chemicals which helps with the promotion of happiness. According to several researchers individuals who exercise more have greater feelings of excitement and enthusiasm than less active people. Plus it's good for your health and heart!
▵ Remember that you're not alone
You are not alone in feeling alone. Remember that everything is going to be just fine and it gets better.


Feel free to leave comments about anything. I'm here to help. Much love, xo

**Photo does not belong to me**

4 Apps I've Been Enjoying In June

1. Venmo

This app allows anybody to pay or request money from other individuals on their friends list. Just as long as you have a card to hook your account up to you're set to go. Whether you're splitting lunch with a friend or paying for rent. This is a very safe and easy method to transfer and accept money. 

I just now discovered this app and it's a game changer. I've heard about this app through a few of my friends but I never found the need to download it. I had to pay my boyfriend for rent and this came in pretty handy. It took 2-3 days for the money to show up in his account but it's a lot easier process than most payment transfer methods.

2. Ibotta

This app allows you to earn money by purchasing participating products from certain grocery stores. You can earn the money even while using your own coupons! You can also shop online for items from featured stores and earn money back! Once you get at least $10 gathered up you can either use Venmo or paypal to place it into your bank cards or you can place the money onto gift cards.

I had this app downloaded before but I didn't understand how it really worked. I then downloaded it again because i've been buying a lot of groceries this summer and well I'm making money from this app so I was pumped. I need all the money I can get this summer. 

3. Toy Blast

Matching game similar to Candy Crush! Rather than the Bejeweled type-game of matching you have the collapse type-game. There are objectives and levels that you must complete in order to move on

Every summer I'm always looking for games to play to help pass the time. It's a bad habit but it's just so addicting! I like this game a lot better than Candy Crush. I find more fun behind this game rather than Candy Crush. Super addicting and I can't stop playing it! It's a great time killer.

4. Cooking Dash 2016

This is basically Diner Dash but now you're cooking in the kitchen while also serving the customers. There are several different recipes that you need to remember but they're simple little recipes. Again, there are levels and you have to get a certain amount of money in order to pass the level. There are 5 different venues to complete.

 Alright, now this game stresses me out! I've never been really good at these rush type of games but this is so much fun! It gets really hard at times too. There are a bunch of steps needed to take for some recipes. Also, this game is gonna suck once I run out of gold bars to purchase the next venues. Anyways, this is a sit down and nobody bother me I have my game face on type of game.

**Photos don't belong to me**

Book List #1

Books I read in May:

Paper Towns by John Green
Released 2009 | 305 pages | Grade: B
Quentin Jacobsen grew up next door to the adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman. A casual day at the park turned into a mystery where the friendship between Quentin and Margo changed. However, several years later she climbs through his window and summons him for a series of revengeful events. The following day Q returns to school thinking that things between him and Margo have changed. However, Margo disappears after their adventure and now becomes a mystery. Q later learns that there are clues that have been left behind for him. The closer he gets to finding him the less he sees the girl that he once thought he knew.

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Released 2013 | 335 pages | Grade: B-
Varsity Tennis captain Ezra Faulkner was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with unpredictable new girl Cassidy Thorpe.


The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Released 1999 | 213 pages | Grade: A
Fifteen-year-old Charlie is coping with the suicide of his friend, Michael. To lessen the fear and anxiety of starting high school alone, Charlie starts writing letters to a stranger, someone he heard was nice but has never actually met in person. He is a shy, introspective, intelligent and socially awkward wallflower caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Currently reading:
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Released 2012 | 337 pages 

Things I'd Like To Do This Summer

Hello friends! So i've put together a mini list of things that i'd like to do/improve on this summer. I graduated college this a few saturdays ago and for my major I am required to do 2 internships which consist of 240 hours each. I'm currently in one and I am getting ready to start another one here very soon. So i'll be stuck in Morehead for just a little longer. With that being said, here are a few things i'd like to do this summer.

1. Do more artsy things (paint,diy,draw)
   
2. Grow a flower garden
   
3. Make more delicious recipes for Gary and I
   
4. Take more photos with my DSLR and my Instax
   
5. Read books!!
   
6. Go on more spontaneous adventures.
   

I'll be sure to keep you all updated on the progress from this list as summer progresses. Thats all for now. Bye! 

**all photos don't belong to me. Credits to weheartit

A Corgi-tastic Wednesday

As i've mentioned before in a previous post I got a Corgi puppy named Lily. I thought i'd share with you a few pictures since her 5 month birthday was yesterday! I'd also like to share a few reasons why Corgis are the best dogs in the world. Also, you can follow Lily on her own instagram: @lilydelcorg

1. They have the cutest smiles

2. They love making new friends


3. They make derp faces

4. The ways that they fall asleep are too cute for words

5. And they're just always cute looking no matter what!

Happy 5 month birthday to my little princess ♔!

The End: Golf Career

For the past 15 years of my life I have been a golfer. Maybe not a serious one for the first couple of years but I have been a golfer. I'd like to thank my dad for introducing me into the sport and allowing me to continue to get better at this game. I'd also like to thank my family for supporting me through this journey. Without them I would have never became the golfer or the person that I am today.

To be honest I hated this sport for a very long time. I thought it was boring and stupid but, as I started to get better I found joy. I wish I was more passionate to further my career in golf but I just don't have the drive to. There were several points in my life however where I was determined to turn pro. But, I put a lot of thought into it and if this was going to be my career for the rest of my life I honestly wouldn't enjoy it. I'd probably hate my life.

This past Wednesday was my last and final round of college golf and it is such a bittersweet feeling. I am so happy that I no longer need to stress over balancing school and a sport but I am also so sad that this sport which was basically my entire life is now coming to an end. I mean it's not like i'm never going to play golf again but, I most likely won't play another competitive round again.



Throughout this journey i've made a lot of friends that i'll keep for a lifetime. I have created so many memories that I will cherish forever. I'd like to give a shoutout to my teammates who have come and gone throughout these past 4 years in collegiate golf. You guys have made golf so much more enjoyable for me and you all have become family to me. I love each and every one of you in your own special way and I wish we could have team bonding all around the world. Good luck with next years season and I hope you all win OVCs. You all deserve it.

I love this damn game but I also hate it at the same time haha. I most definitely will miss it though. It has helped me so much with life and i've learned so many different things from it.

Now here are some pictures from my collegiate career:

Freshman Year

Sophmore year

Junior Year

Senior Year

... and the last putt